"The Defender Challenge, supported by Land Rover and regulated by the Motor Sport Association (MSA), was a one-make series which featured purpose built FIA/MSA approved Defender 90’s modified for performance and safety in races but remaining road legal and it became a highly popular series attracting experienced and rookie entrants from across Europe and the World. The successful Defender Challenge ran for three years in the UK from 2014 to 2016. Whilst some enjoyed competing in the seven-round series of stage and hill rallies each year, others utilised the full training and support provided by Bowler as a stepping stone on their route to the Dakar Rally and other endurance events. Bowler, with Land Rover, wanted to provide an entry level and supportive environment to ultimately prepare competitors to go on to pursue their bigger off-road rally aspirations. Although the series finished at the end of 2016 due to the Defender ceasing production, Bowler’s Defender upgrades including body kit, fast-road Defender conversions and further Defender modification options remained available by Bowler due to their continued popularity.
This 2014 Land Rover Defender 90 was sent by the factory to Bowler Motorsport for preparation to run in the Defender Challenge. Number 11 of 14 cars built, this example has covered just over 4,000 miles from new. The very high specification of this Defender includes Stage 2 Bowler engine upgrade with rally intercooler, Hybrid Turbo and Stage 2 mapping giving 195hp, a Bowler Motorsport six-speed gearbox, a MSA roll cage, Alcon uprated brake system to the front and rear, a 3 race exhaust system, rally suspension kit including double Bilstein shock absorbers, lightweight racing seats with six point safety harness, quick ratio steering box, window conversion kit, Bowler rally body kit and plumbed in and hand held fire extinguisher system. Running on Bowler Motorsport 16 wheels fitted with new road tyres and finished in white with the Defender Challenge graphics package, this Defender is supplied with a V5 registration document, an MoT test certificate which expires in June 2020, a MSA Competition Car Log Book and has recently had a B service. To convert a Defender 90 to this specification would cost over £30,000 in parts alone with the labour costs at least double this making this very low mileage example very good value for money."